The celebrations have barely died down from their success in Madrid in June, but on Thursday European champions Liverpool will find out who they'll be facing as they kick off their defence of the Champions League.

Mohamed Salah's early penalty and Divock Origi's clinical late strike saw off Premier League rivals Tottenham 2-0 in the Spanish capital last season, but any rematch between the pair in Europe is going to have to wait until the knockout stages.

Teams are given country protection in the group stage draw, and after the 32 entrants were confirmed following the final playoff rounds on Wednesday, Liverpool can look at their dream and nightmare scenarios as they bid to reach a third successive Champions League final.

(Image: Getty Images)

The fact that the 2019/20 showpiece will be held at the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul - the scene of Liverpool's unforgettable 2005 triumph - adds another element to Liverpool's European campaign, but who will they end up facing in the groups?

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The dream

Benfica could be a kind opponent from pot two (Image: SIPA USA/PA Images)

As top seeds and defending champions, none of the pot one teams are available for Liverpool to draw.

In the second pot, the kindest result for the Reds would perhaps be a game against Portuguese outfit Benfica , who do possess talented players but are a much easier prospect now they've sold Joao Felix to Atletico Madrid.

Club Brugge of Belgium could be seen as ideal opponents from pot three, and that would mean an Anfield return for Simon Mignolet, while Lille could be plucked from pot four having lost Nicolas Pepe to Arsenal in the summer.

The nightmare

Lukaku would be a familiar foe (Image: SIPA USA/PA Images)

A meeting with 2018 final conquerers Real Madrid , last year's group stage opponents Napoli or a new-look Atletico Madrid would be tough, but Jurgen Klopp would not need telling how hard a clash with Borussia Dortmund would be, especially with the Bundesliga side surely out for revenge following their 2016 Europa League defeat.

From pot three the Reds might want to hope to avoid Inter Milan following their acquisition of former Everton and Manchester United man Romelu Lukaku, while Galatasaray would represent a tough trip from pot four.